Secondly, did not lEli make Idols of his Sons, when he spared them and bare with them, though with the prejudice of Gods worship? And may not we call the Ceremonies, Idols, which are not only spared and borne with, to the prejudice of Gods worship, but are likewise so erected, that the most faithful Labourers in Gods House for their sake are depressed, the Teachers and Maintainers of Gods true worship, cast out? For their sake many Learned & Godly men are envied, contemned, hated, and nothing set by, because they pass under the name (I should say the Nickname) of Puritans. For their sake, many dear Christians have been imprisoned, fined, banished, &c. For their sake, many qualified and well gifted men, are holden out of the Ministry, and a door of entrance denied to those, to whom God hath granted a door of utterance. For their sake, those whose faithful and painful Labours in the Lords Harvest, have greatly benefited the Church, have been thrust from their charges, so that they could not fulfil the Ministry, which they have received of the Lord, to testify of the Gospel of the grace of God. The best Builders, the wise Master builders, have been by them overturned. ⟨p. 49⟩This is objected to m Joseph Hall, by the Brownists: and what can he say to it? forsooth, that not so much the Ceremonies are stood upon, as obedience. If God please to try Adam but with an apple, it is enough. What do we quarrel at the value of the fruit, when we have a prohibition? Shimei is slain: what? merely for going out of the City? the act was little, the bond was great: What is commanded matters, not so much, as by whom? Ans. 1. If obedience be the chief thing stood upon, why are not other Laws and Statutes urged as strictly, as those which concern the Ceremonies? 2. But what means he? what would he say of those Scottish Protestants, imprisoned in the Caste of Scherisburgh in France, who nbeing commanded by the Captain to come to the Mass, answered, that to do any thing that was against their conscience, they would not, neither for him nor yet for the King? If he approve this answer of theirs, he must allow us to say, that we will do nothing which is against our consciences. We submit our selves, and all which we have to the King, and to inferior Governors we render all due subjection, which we owe to them.
Secoundly, did not lEli make Idols of his Sonnes, when he spared them and bare with them, though with the prejudice of Gods worship? And may not we call the Ceremonies, Idols, which are not onely spared and borne with, to the prejudice of Gods worship, but are likewise so erected, that the most faithfull Labourers in Gods House for their sake are depressed, the Teachers and Maintainers of Gods true worship, cast out? For their sake many Learned & Godly men are envied, contemned, hated, and nothing set by, because they passe under the name (I should say the Nickname) of Puritans. For their sake, many deare Christians have been imprisoned, fyned, banished, &c. For their sake, many qualified and well gifted men, are holden out of the Ministery, and a doore of enterance denied to those, to whom God hath graunted a doore of utterance. For their sake, those whose faithfull and painfull Labours in the Lords Harvest, have greatly benefited the Church, have been thrust from their charges, so that they could not fulfill the Ministery, which they have received of the Lord, to testify of the Gospell of the grace of God. The best Builders, the wise Masterbuilders, have been by them overturned. ⟨p. 49⟩This is objected to m Ioseph Hall, by the Brownists: and what can he say to it? forsooth, that not so much the Ceremonies are stood upon, as obedience. If God please to try Adam but with an apple, it is enough. What doe we quarrel at the value of the fruit, when we have a probition? Shemei is slaine: what? merely for going out of the Citie? the act was little, the bond was great: What is commanded matters, not so much, as by whom? Ans. 1. If obedience be the chiefe thing stood upon, why are not other Lawes and Statutes urged as strictly, as those which concerne the Ceremonies? 2. But what meanes he? what would he say of those Scottish Protestāts, imprisoned in the Caste of Scherisburgh in France, who nbeeing commanded by the Captaine to come to the Masse, answered, that to doe any thing that was against their conscience, they would not, neither for him nor yet for the King? If he approve this answer of theirs, he must allow us to say, that we will doe nothing which is against our consciences. We submit our selves, and all which we have to the King, and to inferior Governours we render all due subjection, which we owe to them.
- l1 Sam. […]. 29.1 Sam. 〈…〉. 29.
- nHistor. of the Church of Scotl. lib. 1. pag. 181.
